17 Apartment Cuisine Essentials

Congratulations, you’ve finally made it out of the craphole that was your freshman dorm. You’ve moved on to bigger and better (and hopefully cleaner) things. But now that you’ve got an entire kitchen to yourself, microwave meals and Chinese takeout just won’t cut it anymore. So what exactly should you buy to avoid starvation?

These glass dishes aren’t just for casseroles; they’re also perfect for baking cookies, fish, chicken drumsticks, or anything else that needs to roast a few hours in the oven. Its size makes cooking huge holiday dinners with your friends a breeze, and the thick glass can withstand numerous drops by a drunken roommate.

A proper knife is the most important kitchen tool you’ll ever have. But don’t think you can use the same knife for everything – get at least one classic chef knife, one paring knife, and a serrated knife for bread.

As Alton Brown would say, tongs are an amazing “multi-tool,” versatile enough to stir pasta, grab hot dogs off of a grill, serve salad, or anything else that’s too dangerous or messy to use your fingers for.

There’s no debate: freshly cracked peppercorns and sea salt taste about a million times better than your standard table salt and pepper. The difference is so noticeable it’s more than worth the few extra bucks.

At face value, $100 seems like a hefty price. However, considering the fact that many college students spend at least twice that per semester on coffee alone, it’s easy to see why a Keurig is a decent investment.

The best part about these small wonders is that they require almost no effort on your part. All you have to do is add water – no cooking skill necessary, so it’s nearly impossible to mess up. A bag of white rice is a staple in any college kitchen, cheap, filling and versatile.

Many apartments will come with an extinguisher, and if yours doesn’t, it’s a good idea to buy your own. Greasy flare-ups are terrifying. Baking soda is a usable backup in emergencies, and it’s also far easier to clean than a scorched kitchen.

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